Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 iii Paper 314 4 a Solution 2026-09-28
The divergence-free poloidal field can be represented by the poloidal magnetic flux functionIn a steady axisymmetric ideal magnetohydrodynamics flow, the azimuthal component of makes parallel to . WriteMass conservation and then imply , so the magnetohydrodynamic mass loading is constant along each magnetic line.
The poloidal part of isIts curl vanishes only if its coefficient is a flux function, giving the field-line angular velocityThe azimuthal component of momentum conservation is a divergence of matter and magnetic angular-momentum flux. Dividing its field-line constant by the mass loading yields the magnetohydrodynamic angular-momentum invariantThe conservative total-energy equation similarly gives the magnetohydrodynamic Bernoulli invariantFinally, the entropy advection equation and imply . Thus , and are constant along each magnetic field line.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 iii Paper 314 4 c Solution 2026-09-28
Along the open line, and the mass-loading relation with givesThe solutions of part b consequently haveThe azimuthal Alfvén speed therefore approaches the nonzero constantFor an unconfined outflow it is natural to take and at infinity; also . The magnetic term in the magnetohydrodynamic Bernoulli invariant tends toHence the asymptotic energy of a radial magnetohydrodynamic wind is